Light: Science & Applications

Physicists report using light to activate hidden electrical properties in a crystalline material, a technique that could point toward new ways of controlling electronic behaviour in materials for future technologies. The finding is drawing attention in the physics community, where light-induced control of crystal properties is seen as a promising route to faster, more efficient devices.

Researchers have presented a silicon-photonics-enabled chip-based 3D printer, detailed in a 2024 paper in Light: Science & Applications. The approach integrates optical components on a chip to enable additive manufacturing at tiny scales, a shift from conventional bulk-optical 3D printing systems. Readers on Hacker News are discussing the engineering behind it and what miniaturized 3D printing could mean for manufacturing and lab-on-chip applications.